Be Like A Fox, Be On The Alert
1 Peter 5:5-11
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I have entitled this today, Be Like a Fox, Be On The Alert.
In 1 Peter 5:1, Peter is telling the younger ones, in the Lord, to submit themselves unto the elders.
This could be talking about associate pastors in a local church submitting to the senior pastor.
Peter wants the people to understand that there has to be a mutual understanding.
They needed to be clothed with humility, because God resists the proud and He gives grace to the humble.
If you’re a proud person, today, then God has set Himself in array against you.
God wants us all to be humble in our walks with Him; God wants us to set our faith upon Him and what He has done at the Cross for our sins.
God never wants us to get big heads for what He has done in our lives.
1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
If we are willing to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you in His time.
If we will only be willing to say, “God, I am yours and whatever you want me to do, I will do it. Lord, I am really going through it, but God I am going to really give it to you because You are my answer.”
We have to learn to cast all of our cares upon Him because He cares for you.
We need a direct, once and for all commitment to God.
When it says that He cares for you in verse seven it is translated, “For you are His concern.”
Now look at 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
When it says “be sober” it means, mentally self-controlled.
When it says “be vigilant”, it means to be awake and watchful
because “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
We are faced with a very powerful adversary.
James 4:6-8
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Again we see that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
We have to learn to submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
If we draw nigh to God then He will draw nigh unto us.
1 Peter 5:9
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
When it says, “Whom it is talking about the Devil, Whom resist stedfast in the faith.”
We need to know that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Every Christian faces an onslaught by the evil one.
I have entitled this today: Be Like A Fox Be On The Alert
Here is the reason why:
Dream 2-22-05
I dreamed that I was at the church, a message in tongues was given. The interpretation was given: Be Like A Fox Be On The Alert. I woke up.
Interpretation
We have heard the statement: to be as smart as a fox.
A fox is always on the alert; God wanted me to know that I needed to be on the alert.
We, as children of God, need to know who our enemies are. Our enemy is not one another.
We ought not to be battling against one another, but we need to be on the alert to whom we really are in battle with.
Now look at 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
When it says “be sober” it means, mentally self-controlled.
When it says “be vigilant”, it means to be awake and watchful
because “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
We are faced with a very powerful adversary.
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Are we being like a fox, are we on the alert?
Satan will try to creep into your situations in life and He will try to deceive you.
He will tell you that it is all right to do things that you know is wrong.
He will tell you God does not care what you watch, what you say, and where you go.
He will try and tell you that it is ok to go back into the things that God has delivered you from.
Church, it is time to call the Devil what He really is, He is the father of all lies and one day he will make a splash in the Lake of Fire.
It is time for us to be on the alert to what he is doing in our country, it is time that we take a stand and say “I don’t think so”.
It is time that we get a hold of that old time teaching that we have been taught and stand upon that Word that has been given.
God has not changed in the time that we live in, we have.
The older people had a backbone and they would take the battle to the enemy.
They would get on their knees and they would pray through.
They were on the alert and they knew what to do.
They were a friend of Jesus.
They did what Jesus told them they needed to do.
Satan has come to steal, and to kill, and to destroy your walks with the Lord this morning.
Satan wants to take your families and friends down, what can we do?
James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Are we watching and praying to God in the situations that we are going through?
The enemy, at times, creeps into the church. How? By gossiping, lying and plain rebellion to what the Word says to do.
Church, it is time we submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Church, it is time that we be like a fox and be on the alert.
It is time for the older saints to impart some of their wisdom that the younger might know how to get the job done.
Ro 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
We need to train the younger ones in the faith that they can hear from God. Some of us need to talk about our experiences.
We need to talk about what the Lord has done and what He can do.
Now look at 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
We need to let people know who the enemy is and what he is trying to do.
Closing
Be Like A Fox Be On The Alert
Are you on the alert today?
If you are interested in seeing some God given dreams given to me and others in our church go to:
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/w/windoffaithdrea/
Go to the new text page for the dreams
